wirsching



{No Model.) 3 SheetsShe'et 1.

-.E. A. WIRSOHING. PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

No. 512,422. Patented Jan. 9, 1894.

Fey; 1.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. A, WIRSOHING. PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

No. 512,422. Patented Jan. 9, 1894.

WITNESSES aw/W V %T77% ATTORNEYS.

: mmomu. LIYHOGRAPHING- COMPANY WASHINGTON u c (No Model.) 3Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. A. WIRSGHING.

PRINTING TELEGRAPH. A

No. 512,422. Patented Jan. 9, 1894.

LINE

WITNESSES: w J mvmon WW I M1; a m 4. 7 BY ATTORNEY-S.

STATES EMIL A. WIRSOHING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOALOYS WIRSCHING, OF SAME PLACE.

PRINTINGTELEG RAPH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 512,422, dated January9, 1894.

Application filed May 12,1893. Serial No. 473,942- (No model T0 LLZZwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMIL A. WVIRSCHING, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, county and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Telegraphs, of which thefollowing is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enableany one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification.

It is well known that the receivers or local instruments in printingtelegraph systems are generally impelled or driven by Weights or springsacting through suitable clock mechanism and that the escapements of thesaid clock mechanism are governed by electromagnets in the main line.The successive operations of the escapement-magnet in any given localinstrument, or ticker release its clock-work and thus throw thetype-wheel or wheels on one of the shafts of the clockwork successivelyinto the power of the said weight or spring, whereby the said type-wheelshaft is rotated step by step until the proper letter is in position forprinting. A printingmagnet, also in the main line, is then brought intooperation and the desired letter is recorded upon a suitable strip ortape. The local apparatus or receiver being once wound up, all the otherneedful operations for printing are performed by the central officeoperator, who, by manipulating the proper keys of a transmitter, bothaffects the escapementmagnet in such a manner as to bring the rightletter into position, and also causes the printing-magnet to act formaking the record.

I have devised means whereby the work of winding all the instruments canbe accomplished automatically from the central station, or at the willof the central operator,

through the use of the ordinary current used in the telegraphic service.To this end, I

provide a small rotaiyelectric motor to be added to each ticker orreceiver and so combined therewith as to be capable under certainconditions of winding up the actuating weight or spring, the action ofthe motor being in the reverse direction to that which the spring orweight exerts in the normal operation of the apparatus. I have alsoprovided means whereby the apparatus is prevented from running down sofar as to interfere with the proper operation of my winding devices; allof which will be fully described in the specification which follows, andmore particularly set forth in the claims forming a part thereof.

My invention will be more clearly understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate a type of myinvention, andwherein- Figure 1, is a plan of a ticker having my attachments. Fig. 2,is a perspective of the chief significant parts of the clock mechanism.Fig. 3, is a rear elevation of the ticker with one of its rear platesremoved, and with a portion thereof broken away to show theactuating-spring. Fig. 4, is a detail view. Fig. 5, isa rear elevationof the complete apparatus. Fig. 6, is a diagram of the circuits.

The same designating characters indicate the same parts throughout thedrawings.

Referring more particularly to the several parts, 1 is a ticker of anysuitable type, the same being provided with the usual escapement-magnets2, and the usual printing-magnet 3. The escapement-magnet controls theaction of a clock-work 4, which is operated by a driving-wheel 5. Thesaid wheel 5, may be driven either by a spring or aweight, both sourcesof power-being well known in the art for this purpose.

In the construction shown a spring 82, is used for impelling oractuating the typewheels through means of the intermediate train. Thisspring is coiled within the rotating drum 80, which is mounted on thearbor 81, the ends of the spring being secured fast to said arbor anddrum respectively in the usual way.

The escapement-magnet 2, is the usual polarized magnet whose armature 6,is connected with the escapement-lever 7, of an escapeinent-wheel S, onthe shaft 9. From the said shaft 9, to the driving-wheel 5, theconnection is made by means of a pinion 10, on the shaft 9, a gear-wheel11, engaging therewith, the said gear-wheel being loosely mounted, asshown in Fig. 1, upon a shaft 12, a pinion 13, upon the last namedshaft, a gear-wheel 14,

on a shaft 15, and a pinion 16, on the said shaft 15. This train ofgearing forms the main portion of the clock-work by which the action ofthe apparatus is controlled. The loose gear-wheel 11, has aconnectionwith its shaft by means of a pawl 17, and ratchet 18, so that it moveswith the said shaft when the latter is rotated in one direction but isfree to remain at rest when the shaft is rotated in the oppositedirection.

The gearing described is substantially that which appears in theordinary ticker, save that usually the gear-wheel which I havedesignated as 11, is rigid with its shaft. I have, however, arranged thesaid gear-wheel to be loose upon its shaft and independent of it duringits rotation in one direction and I have added another gear-wheel 19, onthe same shaft 12, gearing with a pinion 20, on an additional shaft 21,all for the purpose of permitting the winding of the driving spring orweight by a simple reversal of the opera tion of the various gears intheir normal action. The operation of this part of the apparatus will befully explained hereinafter. Meanwhile, I may say that theescapementmagnet acts in my apparatus in the ordinary manner and thatthe printing-magnet also has its usual action, for which reason thedetails of this part of the description will be dispensed with. I needonly call attention to the unison apparatus clearly shown in Fig. 4, asconsisting of the usual unison-lever 22, and the unison-detent 23,mounted on the escapement-shaft 9. The rock-shaft 24, which is actuatedby the armature of the printingmagnet, carries an ordinary form ofprintinglever or platen 61, which co-operates in the usual well knownmanner with the typewheels 62, 62, to effect the printing of characterson an intermittentlymoving paper strip or tape, which is not shown.

For the purpose of my invention I have secured to the shaft 24, of thearmature 60, of the printing-magnet 3, a lever 25, carrying a pin 26,which extends out through an opening 27, in the frame of the ticker 1,and rests normally under the end of a screw 28, which passes through apivoted switch-arm 29, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The said switch-arm29, is of insulating materialand is loosely pivoted at 30, to the frameor side wall of the ticker and carries upon its upper face a metallicstrip 31, and upon its lower face a metallic strip 32. These two stripscome together at the end of the switch-arm 29, and form there the springterminals of a normallyclosed electric circuit. As will appearhereinafter, the spring 31, is connected to the printing-magnet 3, andalso to one pole of an electric motor 33, having a rotary armature whilethe other spring 32, is connected directly to line on one side of theapparatus and through a switch-magnet 34, to the opposite pole ofthesaid motor 33.

On the escapement-shaft 9, outside the frame of the ticker I mount a hub35, from which extends adetent 36, the said detent being so arrangedthat at a certain point in the rotation of the shaft 9, it standsdirectly beneath and close to the bent-down end of the spring or strip31. It being borne in mind that the pin 26, lifts the rear end of theswitchbar 29, every time the printing-magnet 3, acts, one will seethatif this described lifting takes place at a time when the detent 36,is just under the end of the spring 31, the said springend will belifted and so break contact between the spring 31, and the spring 32. Itwill also be seen that the armature 79, of the magnet 34, carries acontact-spring 37, which is adapted to make contact with a correspondingterminal 38, every time the circuit of-the switch-magnet 34, is closed.The object of this arrangement will be fully described hereinafter.

Normally, the motor is disconnected from the winding-shaft 21, but itmay be temporarily coupled with the shaft through means of a clutch 39,which is opened and closed by the action of the armature of theswitchmagnet 34. This clutch comprises a sleeve or clutch-box 71,mounted loosely upon the armature-shaft 70, of the motor. The free endof the extension 40, of the armature of magnet 34, takes into a groove77, formed circumferentially around the clutch-box 71, so that thevibration of the armature may serve to slide the sleeve lengthwise onthe armature-shaft in opening and closing the clutch. The clutch sleeve71, is provided with a cl utcharm 41, which is shown as projecting fromthe outer face thereof parallel with the shaft 70. This arm is adaptedto slide endwise through a notch or forked-projection 72, of a yoke orring-piece 42, which is secured fast upon the outer end of thearmature-shaft 70. When the clutch is open the outer end of theclutch-arm 41, is about flush with the outer face of the guide or yoke42, but when the clutch is closed the arm projects beyond the outer faceof the yoke in order to interlock with a suitable projection 43,extending outwardly from the outer face of a hub or bracket 76, which ismounted fast upon the outer end of the Winding-shaft 21. During theprinting operation of the receiver the windingshaft 21, rotates in theusual way, and the clutch-arm or projection 43, carried at its outer endcannot collide and couple with the clutch-arm 41, of the motor-shaft asthe clutch at such time is open. When the armature of the magnet 34, isdrawn down, the clutcharm 41, is thereby projected into the path of theprojection 43, so as to interlock therewith. As the motor at this timeis put in operation, the Winding-shaft is thus rotated in reversedirection from that in which it normally turns and this serves to windup the driving mechanism through means of the gearing hereinbeforedescribed. When the armature falls awayfrom magnet 34, theclutch is openand the winding-shaft is free to turn in its normal direction. While Ihave shown but one form of clutch for temporarily connecting the motorwith the driving mechanism of the receiver, it is to be understood thatany ordinary form of clutch may be used for such purpose. Furthermore, Ido not limit myself to a construction in which the winding-motor istemporarily thrown into engagement with the driving mechanism of thereceiver in order to wind it, since it is evident that a construction inwhich the motor is permanently connected or geared with the windingmechanism would be within the broad scope of my invention.

I may now describe the operation of the parts in combination, theirconstruction and operation having been already described separately. I

Referring especially to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the circuit comingfrom line passes through the apparatus by way of the escapementmagnet 2,the printing magnet 3, springs 31, 32, and on to line again. This is thenormal circuit and in operating it the attendant at the central officeuses the ordinary key of the transmitting instrument for causing as manypulsations of the polarized armature of the escape-ment-magnet as may benecessary to bring thedesired letter into place for printing, and thenby means of a longer closure of the circuit affects the printing-magnet3, in such a manner as to cause the operation of printingto beaccomplished. This goes on until the central office operator concludesthat the local instruments are nearly run down, whereupon he manipulatesthe transmitter until the various instruments have been brought to aposition where the detents 36, are located just below the ends of thesprings 31, in the various instruments. In the present apparatus I haveshown the said detent as adapted to be so placed at the moment when theinstrument is at unison.. This, however, is a non-essential feature, asI may select any key such as that for the letter Z or Q or any otherletter of the alphabet, or I may even use a blank key to bring theinstrument to the point where the detent is in the position shown Figs.5 and 6. Having brought the parts to the position indicated, the centraloffice ope rator closes the circuit and holds it closed until such timeas he thinks necessary for winding the ticker or tickers, whereupon hereleases his keyleaving the apparatus ready for further use in the sameway as before the winding. Now the Winding is accomplished in thefollowing manner: When the circuit is closed, the parts having beenbrought to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the printing-magnet 3,is energized thereby lifting the lever 25, the pin 26, and theswitch-arm 29. This causes the depression of the forward end of the saidswitch-arm and causes the spring 31, to be brought into contact with theend of the detent 36, and lifted away from the spring 32. Accordingly,the main line circuit through the apparatus, already described, isbroken and a new circuit is formed by way of escapement-magnet 2,printing-magnet 3, motor 33, switch-magnet 34, and line. However, theclosing of the circuit of magnet 34, has for its efiect the making ofcontact between the terminal 37, and the terminal 38, whereupon a newpath for the main line current is formed by way of the said terminalsand the frame 80, of the magnet 34, through one bobbin of theprinting-magnet 3, and thence through the motor 33, and the magnet 34,to line. Thus the escapement-magnet 2, and one-half of theprinting-magnet 3, are cut out and the greater portion of the main linecurrent is accordingly utilized for operating the motor The reason whythe current is permitted to pass through one-half of the printing-magnetis because if that were not the case the switch-arm 29, would be allowedto drop and restore the circuit to 31 and 32. Thecircuit is maintainedthrough the switch-magnet 34, in order to cut out the resistance of theescapement magnet, and at the same time to hold the clutch 41,in such aposition as to be in range with the arm 43, on the shaft 21. I come nowto the action of the motor 33, in winding thedriving weight or spring.The circuit through the motor having been made in the manner alreadydescribed, and being held closed by the operator at the central oflice,the motor is first set in operation and,

then continues to operate in such a manner as to turn its armature-shaft70, and at the same time turn with it the shaft 21, the projection 43,and the arm 41, acting as a clutch to unite the two shafts into one.Nowthe direction of rotation of the shaft 21, is such as to cause arotation of the gearing forming the clock-work of the apparatus in adirection just opposite that which-it has when the ticker is goingthrough its normal operation. This can be traced step by step from thepinion 20, gearwheel 19, pinion 13, gear-wheel 14, and pinion 16, to thegear-wheel 15, with which the driving spring or weight is connected. Inthis reverse operation of the parts, the gear-wheel l1, and theescapement-wheel and shaft remain stationary, the pawl 17, slipping overthe backs of the teeth of the ratchet 18, as the latter moves with itsshaft.

It is obvious that the apparatus described in the foregoing willaccomplish the winding of the driving-weight or spring and that itsaction is subject to control by the operators at the central office. Inthis Way, the expense of sending boys to wind the tickers in the varioussub-oftices is entirely dispensed with.

It is, of course, necessary to provide some means for guarding against apractical nullification of the advantages of this invention by reason ofthe danger which exists of having the spring or weight run down so faras ,not to admit of the detent 36, being moved far enough to come intoline with the end of the spring 31. The apparatus which I have devisedfor overcoming this difficulty is shown more particularly in Fig. 3,where the driving-wheel 5, is illustrated as having a pin 44, upon itsrim, the said pin being adapted to co-operatewitha segmental lever 45,which is toothed along a portion of its hub and is frictionally mountedupon a shaft 46, or secured by a screw, to a support, in such manner asto retain its position after being moved. The said lever 45, co-operatesat its outer free end with a detent 47, secured to the shaft 9. It isfound in practice that witha springdrum for driving the ticker, aboutfour revolutions of the said drum are suiiicient for unwinding thespring. The wheel 5, in the present instance rotates in the direction ofthe arrow and when it begins to rotate the lever 45, is in the positionindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. As the wheel 5, comes aroundthe first time, however, the pin 44, catches the tooth on the hub of thelever 45,which is farthest to the left in the drawings. In passing by,the said pin, acting upon the said tooth, moves the lever out of itsoriginal position and toward but not to the position indicated in thefull line in Fig. 3. The second rotation of the wheel moves the lever alittle farther, the third rotation alittle farther and so on. When thespring or the weight is nearly run down, the parts come to occupy theposition illustrated in Fig. 3, where the outer end of the lever 45, isbrought to rest against the detent 47, and can go no farther. At thispoint the ticker is seen to be at unison and the detent 36, is in linewith the end of the spring 31. Accordingly, although the apparatus isout of position to be further operated in printing (the spring beingalmost completely run down) yet the central office operator can at anytime rewind the apparatus by holding the circuit closed,as already setforth. The fact that the ticker shown is so arranged that the lever 45,contacts with the detent 47, at the moment of unison, is a mere matterof detail, which may be varied as indicated above.

If preferred, the transmitting apparatus, which controls the action ofthe winding-motors of the receivers, may be equipped with an automaticdevice which will cause the transmitter to throw the current on themotors and revolve them suiiiciently to wind the driving mechanisms ofthe receivers, every few hours or so. For instance, the transmitter maybe provided with an electric selfwinding clock which is so connectedwith the winding key of the transmitter as to depress it about every twohours or so and keep it depressed a sufiicient length of time to effectthe requsite winding of the motors of the receivers. This self-windingclock may also be provided with an alarm which will operate when theclock is about to depress the winding-key of the transmitter and therebywarn the central operator that the automatic winding is about to takeplace.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a printing telegraph, the combination of aprinting-telegraph receiver or ticker and driving mechanism therefor,and an electric motor having a rotating armature adapted to wind thesaid mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a printing telegraph, the combination of a printing-instrument orticker at a local station, and driving mechanism therefor, an electricmotor having a rotating armature controlled at the central office forwinding the said mechanism automatically, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In a printing telegraph, the combination of a printing-instrument orticker having a driving weight or spring and provided with the usualescapeinent-magnet and printingmagnet through which the main circuitpasses, an electric motor having a rotatingarmature for actuating saiddriving spring or Weight, the said motor being in a normallyshort-circuited branch, and a switch for breaking the short-circuit,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of a printing-instrit ment or ticker and a drivingweight or spring therefor, the said printing instrument or ticker beingtraversed by a main electric circuit controlling one or more magnets, ofan electric motor having a rotating armature for actuating said drivingspring or weight, the said motor being in anormallyshort-circuitedbranch, a switch for breaking the said shortcircuit, means controlled bythe ordinary apparatus of the said printing instrument or ticker, foroperating the said switch, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

5. In a printing telegraph, the combination of a printing-instrument orticker, anda driving weight or spring therefor, the saidprinting-instrument or ticker being traversed by a main electric circuitcontrolling an escapement-magnet and a printing-magnet, an electricmotor for actuating said driving weight or spring, the said motor beingin a normally short-circuited branch, a switch controlling the saidshort-circuit, a second short-circuit, normally open, but including thesaid motor, and an electrd-magnet switch for closing the said secondshort-circuit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a printing telegraph, the combination of a printing-instrumentorticker,andadriving weight or spring therefor, the saidprinting-instrument or ticker being traversed by a main electric circuitcontrolling an escapement-magnet and a printing-magnet, an electricmotor having a rotating armature for actuating the said driving weightor spring, the said motor being in a short-circuit, normally open,and anelectro-magnetic switch for closing the said short-circuit,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a printing telegraph, the combination of a printing-instrument orticker, and a drivng weight or spring therefor, the said printinginstrumentor ticker bing traversed by a main electric circuitcontrolling an escapement and aprinting magnet, an electric motor foractuating the said driving weight or spring, the said motor being in anormally short circuited branch, an electro magnetic switch governed bythe printing-magnet and controlling the said short-circuit, a secondshort circuit, normally open, including the said electric motor butcutting out the said escapement-maguet and one leg of theprintingmagnet, and whose electro-magnet is in the same normallyshortcircuited branch with the said motor, an electro-magnetic switchfor closing'the said short-circuit, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

8. In a printing telegraph, the combination of a pr nting-instrument orticker, and a drivng welght or spring therefor, the saidprinting-lnstrument or ticker being traversed by a main electric circuitcontrolling an escapement and a printing-magnet, an electric motoradapted to be operatively connected with the said driving weight orspring, the said motor being in a normally short-circuited branch, 'anelectro-magnetic switch governed by the printing-magnet and controllingthe said short-circuit, a second short-circuit, normally open, includingthe said electric motor but cutting out the said escapement-magnet andone leg of the printing-magnet, and an electromagnetic switch forclosing the said short-circuit, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

9. The combination with a driving-gear, of an electric motor having arotating armature connected with and adapted to operate the gear in adirection reverse to the normal, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination with a driving-gear, and an electric motor having arotating armature connected with and adapted to operate the said gear inadirection reverse to the normal, of a switch governing the circuit ofthe said motor and a switch-controlling device adapted to be broughtinto position by the said drlvingear for affecting the said switch, asand for the purpose set forth.

1 1. The combination with a driving mechanism, and an electric motoradapted to operate the said mechanism in a direction reverse to thenormal, of a switch governing the circuit of the said motor and aswitch-controlling device adapted to be brought into position by thesaid driving mechanism for affectlng the said switch, all in combinationwith means for stopping the said mechanism at the proper position foraffecting the said switch, as and for the purpose set forth.

1 2. The combination with a driving mechanlsm, and an electric motoradapted to operate the said mechanism in a direction reverse to thenormal, of a switch governing the circuit of the said motor and aswitch-con trolling device adapted to be brought into positionby thesaid driving mechanism for affecting the said switch, all in combinationwith a detent on the driving mechanism adapted to be brought intooperation when the said mechanism is nearly run down and to stop thesaid mechanism when the switch-controlling device is in the properposition for affecting the said switch, as and for the purpose setforth.

13. The combination of a printing-instrumentor ticker and a drivingweight or spring therefor, the said printing instrument or ticker beingtraversed by a main electric circuit controlling one or more magnets, ofan electric motor for actuating said driving spring or weight, the saidmotor being in a normally short-circuited branch, a switch for breakingthe said short-circuit, means controlled by the ordinary apparatus ofthe said printing-instrument or ticker for operating the said switch,and an automatic clutch for; connecting the said motor to the saiddriving spring or weight, as and for the purpose set forth.

14. In a printing-telegraph, the combination of a printing-instrument orticker, and a driving weight or spring therefor, the saidprinting-instrument or ticker being traversed by a main electric circuitcontrolling an escapement-magnet and a printing-magnet, an electricmotor for actuating said driving weight or spring, the said motor beingin a normally shortcircuited branch, a switch controlling the saidshort-circuit, a second short-circuit normally open, but including thesaid motor, and an electromagnetic switch for closing the said secondshort-circuit, and an automatic clutch for connecting the said motor tothe said driving spring or weight, as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In a printing telegraph, the combination of a printing-instrument orticker, and a driving weight or spring therefor, the saidprinting-instrument or ticker being trav-" ersed' by a main electriccircuit controlling an escapement-magnet and a printing-magnet, anelectric motor for actuating the said driving Weight or spring, the saidmotor being in a short-circuit, normally open, and an electromagneticswitch for closing the said short-circuit, and an automatic clutch forconnecting the said motor to the said driving spring or weight, as andfor the purpose set forth.

16. In a printirig-telegraph, the combination of a. printing-instrumentor ticker, and a driving weight or spring therefor, the saidprinting-instrument or ticker being traversed by a main electric circuitcontrolling an escapement and a printing-magnet, an electric motor foractuating the said driving weight or spring, the said motor being in anormally short-circuited branch, an electro-magnetic switch governed bythe printing-magnet and controlling the said short-circuit, a secondshort-circuit, normally open, including the said electric motor butcutting out the said said motor and a switch-controlling device adaptedto be brought into position by the said driving-gear for afiectingthesaid switch, [5

and an automatic clutch for connecting the said motor to the saiddriving-gear.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 9th day of May,1893, in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

EMIL A. WIRSCHING.

\Vitnesses:

A. M. HAYES, WILLIS FOWLER.

